apa format for 500 word essay

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How to Write an Essay in APA Format

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

What Is APA Format?

Apa essay format basics.

• Steps to Follow

Frequently Asked Questions

If your instructor has asked you to write an APA format essay, it might at first seem like a daunting task, especially if you are accustomed to using another style such as MLA or Chicago. But you can master the rules of APA essay format, too.

An essay is one type of paper that can be written in APA format; others include lab reports, experimental reports, and case studies. Before you begin, familiarize yourself with some of the basic guidelines for writing a paper in APA format. Of course, it will also be important to follow any other formatting instructions that are part of your assignment.

How do you write an essay in APA format? The basic elements you need to include are:

• A title page
• An abstract
• An introduction, main body, and conclusion
• A reference section
• Proper APA formatting with regard to margins, layout, spacing, titles, and indentations

This article discusses how to write an essay in APA format, including the basic steps you should follow and tips for how to get started.

Whether you’re taking an introductory or graduate-level psychology class, chances are strong that you will have to write at least one paper during the course of the semester. In almost every case, you will need to write your paper in APA format, the official publication style of the American Psychological Association . It is also used for academic journals.

Such rules are generally the same whether you are writing a high school essay, college essay, or professional essay for publication.

APA format is used in a range of disciplines including psychology , education, and other social sciences. The format dictates presentation elements of your paper including spacing, margins, and how the content is structured.

Most instructors and publication editors have strict guidelines when it comes to how your format your writing. Not only does adhering to APA format allow readers to know what to expect from your paper, but it also means that your work will not lose critical points over minor formatting errors. 

While the formatting requirements for your paper might vary depending on your instructor's directions, writing APA essay format means you will most likely need to include a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference sections.

Your APA format essay should have a title page . This title page should include the title of your paper, your name, and your school affiliation. In some instances, your teacher might require additional information such as the course title, instructor name, and the date.

• The title of your paper should be concise and clearly describe what your paper is about.
• Your title can extend to two lines, but it should be no longer than 12 words.

An abstract is a brief summary of your paper that immediately follows the title page. It is not required for student papers, according to APA style. However, your instructor may request one.

If you include an abstract , it should be no more than 100 to 200 words, although this may vary depending upon the instructor requirements.

Your essay should also include a reference list with all of the sources that were cited in your essay,

• The reference section is located at the end of your paper.
• References should be listed alphabetically by the last name of the author.
• References should be double-spaced.
• Any source that is cited in your paper should be included in your reference section.

When writing in APA essay format, the text will include the actual essay itself: The introduction, body, and conclusion.

• There should be uniform margins of at least one inch at the top, bottom, left, and right sides of your essay.
• The text should be in Times New Roman size 12 font or another serif typeface that is easily readable.
• Your paper should be double-spaced.
• Every page should include a page number in the top right corner.
• The first word of each paragraph in your paper should be indented one-half inch.

For professional papers (usually not student papers), every page of the essay also includes a running head at the top left. The running head is a shortened form of the title, often the first few words, and should be no more than 50 characters (including spaces).

Steps to a Successful APA Format Essay

In addition to ensuring that you cite your sources properly and present information according to the rules of APA style, there are a number of things you can do to make the writing process a little bit easier.

Choose a Topic

Start by choosing a good topic to write about. Ideally, you want to select a subject that is specific enough to let you fully research and explore the topic, but not so specific that you have a hard time finding sources of information.

If you choose something too specific, you may find yourself with not enough to write about. If you choose something too general, you might find yourself overwhelmed with information.

Research Your Topic

Start doing research as early as possible. Begin by looking at some basic books and articles on your topic to help develop it further. What is the question you are going to answer with your essay? What approach will you take to the topic?

Once you are more familiar with the subject, create a preliminary source list of potential books, articles, essays, and studies that you may end up using in your essay.

Remember, any source used in your essay must be included in your reference section. Conversely, any source listed in your references must be cited somewhere in the body of your paper.

Write Your Rough Draft

With research in hand, you are ready to begin. Some people like to create an outline to organize their argument prior to drafting. You may want to start with a very rough outline, and then add details.

Once you have a detailed outline, the next step is to translate it from notes to complete sentences and paragraphs. Remember, this is a first draft. It doesn't have to be perfect.

As you write your paper in APA essay format, be sure to keep careful track of the sources that you cite.

How do you start an APA paper? Your paper should begin with an introduction that includes a thesis statement that presents your main ideas, points, or arguments. Your introduction should start on the third page of your paper (after the title page and abstract). The title of your paper should be centered, bolded, and typed in title case at the top of the page.

Review and Revise

After you have prepared a rough draft of your essay, it's time to revise, review, and prepare your final draft. In addition to making sure that your writing is cohesive and supported by your sources, you should also check carefully for typos, grammar errors, and possible formatting mistakes.

When citing information or quotations taken from an interview, APA format requires that you cite the source, how the information was collected, and the date of the interview. They should not be included in the reference section, however, because they are not something that can be located by a reader in any published source or searchable database.

Instead, the information should be cited parenthetically in the main body of the text. For example: “There was an increase in the number of college students who screened positive for depression/anxiety” (R. Heathfield, personal communication, May 9, 2021).

If the essay is in a chapter of a book, edited collection, or anthology, APA format states that you should cite the last name, first name, title of essay, title of collection, publisher, year, and page range. For example: Smith, John, "The Light House," A Book of Poems , editing by Peter Roberts, Allworth Press, 2005, pp. 20-25.

According to APA format, a two-part essay is formatted the same as an essay, however, you'll need to create two title pages.

If you're including a short direct quote in your APA-format essay, you will need to cite the author, year of publication, and page number (p.) or page number span (pp.). Quotations longer than 40 words should omit the quotation marks and be put in the text using block quotation formatting, on its own line and indented 1/2 inch from the left margin.

The cover page or "title page" in APA essay format should always include the title of your paper, your name, and school affiliation as well as the course title, instructor name, and date, if requested by your teacher.

Nagda S.  How to write a scientific abstract.   J Indian Prosthodont Soc.  2013;13(3):382-383. doi:10.1007/s13191-013-0299-x

American Psychological Association.  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Essay Writing Guide

500 Word Essay

A Complete 500 Word Essay Writing Guide

14 min read

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

Last updated on: Oct 30, 2023

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1000 Word Essay - A Simple Guide With Examples

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A 500-word essay is a common format assignment that students have to deal with. It is a three-part paper that provides vivid descriptions of an event, object, or phenomenon.

This format of essay writing is very easy if you know the correct techniques to put down your ideas in a specific word limit. 

The best way to write an essay in this format is by using specific words and making your ideas flow well. This essay enables you to learn how to be concise so that you meet your word limit without sacrificing quality.

We understand that students often face many challenges when writing an essay . Especially, if they are writing on a difficult and uninteresting topic or a theme.  

Now you are saved as you can find all the important instructions here for writing a 500-word essay worthy of an A+ grade. 

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The Definition of A 500 Word Essay

A 500-word essay is an important piece of academic writing that describes the writer’s perspective on a certain point of view. 

It is actually not an essay type but a specific format. It can be followed while writing different types of essays such as:

Argumentative Essay Analytical Essay Narrative Essay Critical Essay Reflective Essay Descriptive Essay Persuasive Essay Expository Essay Rhetorical Analysis Essay Literary Analysis Essay Cause and Effect Essay Compare and Contrast Essay   A 500-word essay can be the easiest and at the same time, the most difficult one to write. It all depends on two things; the Topic and the Writer’s Abilities .    Teachers love to assign 500-word essay assignments to students. Because it can help them quickly access their critical, analytical and writing skills. 

As a student, it is important for you to follow the required essay format to fit your ideas properly.

500-Word Essay vs. 250-Word Essay

The length of an essay can make a huge difference when it comes to the level of impact it has. A 500-word essay is typically much longer than a 250-word essay, allowing for more detail and evidence to be included in the paper. 

This additional content can help provide a strong argument or support a point of view, helping to make the essay more effective.

500-Word Essay vs. 1000+ Word Essay 

When writing a 500-word essay, you should focus on providing an introduction that gives the reader some context for the topic at hand and then quickly moves into your main points.

A 500-word essay can be quite concise and to the point, so there’s no need to add filler or fluff just to reach the word count. 

1000+ word essays require more than just getting right to the point; they also require thorough research and in-depth analysis of your topic. 

With a longer essay, you will have time to provide more detail and evidence to support your points. 

500 Words Essay Format 

The 500-word essay challenges writers to express their thoughts, ideas, and arguments in a compact format. Here is the format and structure of a well-crafted 500-word essay.

• Introduction (Approximately 50-75 words)
• Body Paragraphs (2-3 paragraphs, Approximately 150-200 words)
• Counterargument (Optional, Approximately 50-75 words)
• Conclusion (Approximately 50-75 words)

Introduction

• Start with a compelling hook or a thought-provoking question to engage your reader.
• Provide a clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main idea or argument of your essay.

Body Paragraphs 

• Each paragraph should focus on a single point or idea that supports your thesis.
• Begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of the paragraph.
• Provide evidence, examples, or arguments to support your point.
• Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain the essay's coherence.

Counterargument 

• Address a potential counterargument to your thesis to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic.
• Refute the counterargument or explain why your thesis remains valid despite it.
• Summarize the key points made in the essay without introducing new ideas.
• Restate the thesis in different words to reinforce its significance.
• End with a thought-provoking closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

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How to Write a 500-word Essay?

Writing a 500-word essay is pretty much like classic essay writing. Here you have to provide solid arguments to support your claim, inform your reader, or discuss a trendy topic.

Like any other typical essay outline, it contains three parts; introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Here is the step-by-step guide that you can follow for writing a 500-word essay.

Create An Outline

• Write A Strong Introduction

Composing The Body Paragraphs

• Write An Impressive Conclusion

Below is a detailed description of each step for writing a perfect 500-word essay. 

First, make a clear and detailed essay outline , and do not miss anything at this point. It will serve as a backbone for your entire paper.

The purpose of this outline is to break down the ideas in a logical and structured manner. Then, to make the content clearer and more coherent throughout the paper. After the outline, write your paper on your own to avoid the risk of plagiarism.

Write a Strong Introduction

The introductory paragraph of your essay will be the first glimpse the reader will catch. Grab your reader from the start of this paragraph with an attention-grabbing hook . Make it as interesting and creative as you can so that they don't put down the essay before reading it all!   For writing an essay introduction , first, you need to introduce your main topic. And give an idea of what the reader may encounter in the rest of the essay.  The first step to start writing an introduction is to introduce your main topic and give a brief idea of what the reader may find later on.

Don’t forget to end this paragraph with a perfect thesis statement on which the whole essay is based. 

The body section of an essay is mostly divided into 3 paragraphs. It is the point where you need to explain all types of arguments you made in an essay. Then, support these arguments with relevant examples, facts, or personal interpretations. 

Here are the key points that are important to cover for a perfect body section of a 500-word essay:

• Start your body paragraph with an engaging topic sentence that discusses what you are going to talk about.
• Examine the main point of view and provide solid facts to support the argument.
• Introduce a new idea with detailed information, examples, and evidence from reliable sources.
• Make sure every idea described in the body paragraphs is concise and relevant.
• Make sure you use transitions in your essay paragraphs so the readers understand the relationship between your ideas.

Write an Impressive Conclusion

The last part of the essay where you have to summarise the main argument of the essay. It begins with restating the thesis statement and explaining it with some strong points analyzed in the body section.

It is important to learn how to write a conclusion  that reminds the readers of the thesis. Make sure it does not completely iterate the introduction. Focus on providing critical insight into the main subject of discussion.

Always proofread your essay for mistakes and inconsistencies. Also, make sure the writing convention checklist is followed, as it will give you a clearer idea of what needs to be improved before submitting!

Now you know what a 500-word essay looks like and will be able to write your 500-word essay the best way possible.

If you still need some guidance, here is a video on how to write a 500-word essay!

How Long is a 500 Word Essay? 

Many students wonder how long a 500-word essay is, how many paragraphs it should consist of and what is the appropriate font to use. The answer to these questions seems pretty obvious at first glance. 

But the question is not about the words. Rather, students want to know how many pages are there in a 500-word essay. 

How Many Pages is a 500 Word Essay?

A 500-word essay is typically one to two pages long, depending on formatting and spacing.

For APA style, use a 12-point font for serif (e.g., Times New Roman) and 11-point for sans-serif (e.g., Arial).

Always follow the formatting guidelines provided by your assignment or course.

How Many Paragraphs is a 500-Word Essay? 

A 500-word essay usually includes 4 to 6 paragraphs, with each paragraph containing approximately 75 to 200 words. The specific number and length of paragraphs can vary based on the type and structure of the essay.

Word count is important in this essay so it is best to write an introduction within 100 words, body paragraphs should be of 300 words, and conclude the essay in 100 words.

500 Word Essay Examples

All 500-word essays follow a different style and structure, making it difficult for a student to understand what their instructor expects. In such scenarios, 500-word essay examples can be of great help.

Below you can find some 500-word essay examples on different topics to better understand the various style formats.

500 Word Essay On Honesty

A 500-word essay on honesty is a commonly assigned task to high school and college students. It simply involves writing on how to develop a practice of speaking the truth always.

Here is an example 500-word essay on honesty that you can refer to for your understanding.

500 Word Essay on Honesty

500 Word Essay On Integrity

Below, you can find a great 500-word essay on integrity written by one of our expert writers for your help.

500 Word Essay On Leadership

Leadership essay discusses the quality of leading people. Get help from the following leadership essay example and learn how you can write on one of the important aspects of life.

500 Word Essay On Punctuality  

Punctuality is an important trait that everyone should strive to possess. Take help from this punctual example essay and make your writing even more powerful.

500 Word Essay On Punctuality

500 Word Essay On Responsibility  

Responsibility is an important value that everyone should possess. It dictates the way we interact with others and how we carry out our daily lives. Take a look at our example of an essay on responsibility to understand what it means to be responsible.

500 Word Essay On Responsibility  

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship  

Writing an essay explaining why you deserve a scholarship can be a challenging experience since students often feel like they’re bragging about themselves. Learn how to write a 500-word essay for scholarship that will make a strong case for your academic excellence with our sample!

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship Pdf

500 Word Essay on Respect 

Respect is a very important concept in today's society. It is an essential component of any successful relationship, both personal and professional. Check out our essay example on  Respect to begin learning more about this topic.

500 Word Essay On Respect

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher 

Writing essays about something you are passionate about is never an easy task. When it comes to writing about why people want to be a teacher, you can always take help from some great sample essays.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse 

Nursing is a passion for a lot of people. If you want to write an essay on why you want to be a nurse, you must look at our sample essay.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse

500 Word Essay on Global Warming

Global warming is not just an environmental concern but a moral obligation for the well-being of our planet. Write a 500 word essay on global warming with the help of our sample.

500 Word Essay Topics 

Following are the best 500-word essay topics that you can go through and choose the one that you find interesting.

• Describe your favorite trip.
• Is it possible to earn on the Internet?
• What are the challenges of people living with disabilities?
• How to avoid problems at college.
• What is honesty?
• Abstract art and its impact on people.
• Causes of racism.
• The best day of your life.
• What is the objective of your life? 
• What do you mean by punctuality? 

If you want to look at more topics, feel free to choose from our interesting list of topics . Start working on your essay confidently!

Writing essays in this format might seem easy, but the writing process can be tricky for students.

The biggest challenge is fitting all the important details into those 500 words.

If you want help brainstorming ideas, let MyPerfectWords.com address your “ write my essay for me ” requests efficiently. 

Have Questions? Ask our 24/7 available customer support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many sentences is a 500-word essay.

You can fit about 500 words on one page with standard margins, single spacing, and size 12 font. This is because there are usually 5 letters in each word, 15 words in a sentence, and an average of 7 sentences in a paragraph.

Can a 500-word essay have 4 paragraphs?

The length of your essay will depend on the type and topic. A 500-word paper can be 3-4 paragraphs long, while a 600 or 700-word document requires 4 to 5 paragraphs in order for it all to make sense.

How many references are needed for a 500-word essay?

Going by the 500-word essay length, you would not need to add more than 2-4 references since you’re limited by the word count. Each citation needs its introductory statement, followed by the source’s data and its explanation, so that leaves little room to add in too many sources.

Does a 500-word essay have to be exactly 500 words?

Yes, that’s because the general rule for any academic essay is to not exceed the given word count by more than 10%. So applying the same rule, your 500 word essay length should ideally not exceed 10%, that is 550 words, so you should try to wrap up your thoughts within that word count or otherwise risk a negative marking by the professor.

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• Applying For Scholarships

How to Write a Great 500 Word Essay

David Feb 14, 2018

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During your scholarship applications, you may need to submit a 500-word essay answering a specific question. The theme of the essay can range from personal achievements to political controversies. This means you can adjust your writing style to fit the message of the prompt. This guide will explain how to write a 500-word scholarship essay. We will also provide an example for inspiration.

How to Format a 500-Word Scholarship Essay

The format of a 500-word scholarship essay is similar to a shorter essay. Each paragraph is about 75-125 words, and it consists of 3-5 well-written sentences. If you are writing a story or personal anecdote, the formatting can be more like a novel than a news article.

The main components of a 500-word essay include:

Introduction paragraph that engages the reader and establishes the thesis. The thesis may be a question that you will later answer in the essay content, or it can be a statement that you support in the body paragraphs. If you are writing a story, your “thesis” may not be as apparent.

4-6 body paragraphs that provide evidence to back up your thesis. Each paragraph should be a cohesive element with an intro and conclusion. The body paragraphs should flow well from one point to the next.

A conclusion paragraph that reminds the reader of the thesis and highlights key points from the body text. The conclusion should answer the question or complete the statement made in the introduction. It should give the reader a sense of closure and resolution

500-word essays do not have to be exactly 500 words, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say “in under 500 words” or “in at least 500 words,” which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count. If that information is not specified, write as much as you need to comprehensively address the prompt without frivolous content.

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500-Word Essay vs. 250-Word Essay

500-word scholarship essays offer more writing flexibility than 250-word essays . With a shorter word count, you are often forced to summarize long-winded thoughts into quick to-the-point snippets. 500 words give you more room to express your opinion. Yet, it is still short enough that it does not need footnotes and cited resources, usually.

500-Word Essay vs. 1000+ Word Essay

Another scholarship essay length you may encounter is 1,000 words. With a 1,000-word scholarship essay, you will need to cite sources and provide detailed references to support your claims. 1,000+ word essay prompts are often used for writing competitions, where you may be asked to create a fictional story. The extra length gives room for extra creativity, but it also requires more time to put the perfect piece together.

You should approach all essays with the same mentality, regardless of their length. Your goal is to compose a piece that clearly guides the reader through your thoughts and reasoning. You may have to adjust how you convey those thoughts based on the length. Your essay should always have a beginning, middle, and end.

Scholarships for High School Seniors

Looking for scholarships for high school seniors? You’ve come to the right place! This handy guidebook will give you all the information (and more) you need to find scholarships for high school seniors. In this guide, you’ll learn about scholarships for different types of students, different scholarships by subject, scholarship applications, easy and weird scholarships, local scholarships, corporate scholarships, fraternity and sorority scholarships, and more. Read on for more information on how you can win scholarships for high school seniors…

READ THE GUIDE

A Step-by-Step 500-Word Essay Example

To help you see how to write a 500-word scholarship essay, we want to show you each section of the essay step-by-step. Use this as a general guide when you write your essay. However, feel free to add your own spin to it. Our writing sample will be in green, and the commentary will be in plain text. So…let’s begin!

TOPIC: Should cell phone usage be controlled in college classrooms?

Step 1 – Create a Thesis

Everything in your essay revolves around your thesis. This is the big point you are trying to make, which is usually an answer to a question in the essay prompt. You will use the rest of the essay to support this thesis.

For the topic Should cell phone usage be controlled in college classrooms? our thesis will be:

“Cell phone usage should be controlled in college classrooms, as long as it does not hinder students’ rights.”

Step 2 – Write the Introduction

The introduction should grab your reader’s attention and prepare for an explanation of the thesis. It usually starts with a general statement related to the topic at hand, followed by supplementary sentences that lead into the thesis. Here is a sample introduction for our essay, including the thesis at the end of the paragraph:

Cell phones have gone from a sought-after luxury to a daily necessity. While these devices provide convenient access to the outside world, they can be problematic for educators. High school teachers can tell children in their classes to put their phones away, but should professors have the same control over adult men and women? The key is to create cell phone usage policies that limit distractions without hindering student rights.

Word count: an Intro paragraph, 70 words.

Step 3 – Write the Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should provide support for the thesis. Why do you think this way, and what evidence do you have to support those beliefs? The paragraphs should flow from one to the next like a constant stream of thought. Each paragraph should conclude the statement made at the beginning of the paragraph.

Building on the thesis “Cell phone usage should be controlled in college classrooms, as long as it does not hinder students’ rights,” we will now explain how colleges can control cell phones in class while preserving student rights. If our thesis was that cell phones should NOT be controlled in college, we would explain the dangers of not having access to cell phones.

No matter which side of the argument you choose, you should acknowledge the other angle and negate those statements. As you will see below, we remark on why some students may not want cell phone usage policies. We will also suggest how to get around those concerns. Doing this provides the best possible support for your thesis because it shows you have taken every angle into consideration.

Here is the body for our 500-word essay sample:

The primary argument supporting cell phone control in the classroom is the fact that phones can be distracting. Not only do cell phones distract instructors, but they may also distract students trying to pay attention to the lecture. This is the same effect as a moviegoer looking at his phone in a theater. Even if the phone makes no noise, the light from the screen is enough to catch someone’s attention. Arguments against cell phone control typically focus on safety concerns. Should a crisis occurs in the classroom, students should have their phones on hand to make a call. If a student has a child, he or she may need a phone in case of a medical emergency. If the student is on call for work, he or she will need access to a phone. The list of exception-worthy scenarios is endless. The best solution is to create cell phone usage rules that allow devices to be accessible without disturbing other students’ educational opportunities. Students should be permitted to keep their phones in their bags, pockets, or other belongings as long as the phones are on silent in class. Vibrate settings may be permitted if the instructor does not believe it will distract him or her, since the noise of the vibration may not be noticeable in a large classroom. If a student needs to answer the phone during an emergency, he or she can step out of the classroom to do so. This setup would give the students and the instructor peace of mind. Cell phone restrictions in classrooms should also include specific disciplinary actions for breaking the rules. If a student is caught using the phone in class, he or she should be excused for the rest of the day. Professors should refrain from physically taking possession of a student’s phone because of liability conflicts. If the phone is damaged while in the professor’s possession, the school or the instructor could be held responsible for the repairs. It is safer to ask the student to leave the classroom than it is to take the phone away completely.

Word count: Body paragraphs, 349 words. Total essay is now 419 words.

Step 4 – Wrap It up with a Conclusion

Once you have covered all your points, you should summarize the essay’s contents in the conclusion. This is your last opportunity to convince the reader of your thesis. Touch on the most important aspects of your essay then leave the reader with something to think about. Here is an example of how to conclude our essay:

Each school, professor and student body is different. Colleges must adapt their rules and discipline efforts to reflect the current needs of their students. Eliminating cell phones in college classrooms is an overstretch, but there are ways to balance students’ rights and instructors’ rights. With the right amount of control and flexibility, colleges can create a pleasant learning environment with maximum safety and minimal interruptions.

Notice how our conclusion was definitive but optimistic. We explain that colleges need to adapt their rules to fit the needs of their students. Yet still, confirm that cell phone use policies should be enforced.

Word count: Conclusion paragraph, 65 words. Total essay is now 484 words.

But wait! You’re 16 words short! We know that. The essay covered everything we wanted to without the need for extra words. If the prompt asked for at least 500 words, we would add another sentence to support one of the paragraphs. Since that was not a requirement though, we kept the essay as-is to avoid sounding wordy or repetitive.

The Complete 500-Word Essay Example

Cell phones have gone from a sought-after luxury to a daily necessity. While these devices provide convenient access to the outside world, they can be problematic for educators. High school teachers can tell children in their classes to put their phones away, but should professors have the same control over grown men and women? The key is to create cell phone usage policies that limit distractions without hindering student rights. The primary argument supporting cell phone control in the classroom is the fact that phones can be distracting. Not only do cell phones distract instructors, but they may also distract students trying to pay attention to the lecture. This is the same effect as a moviegoer looking at his phone in a theater. Even if the phone makes no noise, the light from the screen is enough to catch someone’s attention. Arguments against cell phone control typically focus on safety concerns. Should a crisis occurs in the classroom, students should have their phones on hand to make a call. If a student has a child, he or she may need a phone in case of a medical emergency. If the student is on call for work, he or she will need access to a phone. The list of exception-worthy scenarios is endless. The best solution is to create cell phone usage rules that allow devices to be accessible without disturbing other students’ educational opportunities. Students should be permitted to keep their phones in their bags, pockets, or other belongings as long as the phones are on silent in class. Vibrate settings may be permitted if the instructor does not believe it will distract him or her, since the noise of the vibration may not be noticeable in a large classroom. If a student needs to answer the phone during an emergency, he or she can step out of the classroom to do so. This setup would give the students and the instructor peace of mind. Cell phone restrictions in classrooms should also include specific disciplinary actions for breaking the rules. If a student is caught using the phone in class, he or she should be excused for the rest of the day. Professors should refrain from physically taking possession of a student’s phone because of liability conflicts. If the phone is damaged while in the professor’s possession, the school or the instructor could be held responsible for the repairs. It is safer to ask the student to leave the classroom than it is to take the phone away completely. Each school, professor and student body is different. Colleges must adapt their rules and discipline efforts to reflect the current needs of their students. Eliminating cell phones in college classrooms is an overstretch, but there are ways to balance students’ rights and instructors’ rights. With the right amount of control and flexibility, colleges can create a pleasant learning environment with maximum safety and minimal interruptions.

Tips for Writing a Great 500-Word Essay

Here are some tips to help you write a great 500-word scholarship essay:

Give yourself at least two full days to write the essay. You can use the first day to write a draft and do some minor editing. Then on the second day, you can look at the essay with fresh eyes to do your final edits.

If you have a chance to show your essay to your English instructor or academic adviser, do so. You can use the feedback to improve the essay before submitting it.

Don’t focus on the word count as you write. Get all your thoughts on paper, and you can extend or shorten the essay during the editing process.

Write the first draft from start to finish, even if you know your thoughts are out of order. You can re-arrange them at a later time, but the initial run through will be as fluid as possible.

Re-read the prompt several times before writing. You don’t want to write an entire essay only to find out you were completely off topic.

Always think about your audience when writing a scholarship essay. What organization is issuing the scholarship, and how can you tie that into your writing? What is the underlying information they want to learn from your essay? Write in a way that shows you are the best candidate for the scholarship.

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• Scholarship Essay

David Tabachnikov is the CEO of ScholarshipOwl. Formerly at Waze and Google, David is an experienced CTO/R&D manager with over 10 years of experience of leading tech teams. David fervently believes that students should have greater access to education, and is passionate about using technology to help them achieve that goal.

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500 Words Essay Example

500 Words Essay Overview

The 500 words essay is one of the most common essay lengths for high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate students.

Depending on the purpose, you are likely to come across such essays in numerous forms, including an English essay in 500 words or a 500 words essay about myself.

Essays with such a length requires you to provide adequate details about the topic or issue being discussed while at the same time remaining precise and concise.

As depicted by different 500 words essay examples, this essay is usually considered the middle ground between a long detailed essay and a short succinct essay.

Basic factors to consider when writing this essay include:

1.   Steps to essay writing

2.   Essay outline

Since a 500 word essay is constrained to limited writing time, understanding the steps to essay writing and the use of an appropriate essay outline is critical in realization of quality work.

Note that 500 words essays are diverse and dynamic in their areas of disciplines, purposes, and approaches.

Common 500 words essay example areas may include  admission essay ,  essay on a movie ,  history essay ,  essay on business ethics ,  essay on nursing career goals ,  social work career goals essay , and  nursing reflective essay .

500 Words Essay Format

In line with the 500 words essay example provided below, the format of a 500 words essay is similar to that of a conventional essay.

This format encompasses different essay parts, including introduction, body, and conclusion.

Nonetheless, note that the 500 words essay format may slightly vary depending on the types of essay under question.

When it comes to formatting the essay, you should pay adequate attention to the provided instructions.

Such instructions could that formatting assumes common styles like APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago.

A good 500 words essay example demonstrates the appropriate approaches for the different parts of an essay.

The relationship between these parts is critical in enhancing coherency in the essay.

That noted, a typical 500 words essay example could be as illustrated below.

Topic : Forms of Religious Prejudice in “Merchant of Venice”

Introduction

Usually, prejudice is realized through fear, hatred, or even the threat of a shared enemy. It entails biases perpetuated with the intention of helping people assume consolidated power within the society, for them to achieve individual interests that are in most cases quite unconstructive. Past evidence indicates that prejudice and the resulting discrimination have far-reaching effects on the lives of society members. Such affects are apparent in the play The Merchant of Venice, where hatred between different groups of individuals negatively affects healthy co-existence. One of the key foundations of this prejudice is religious differences. The play illustrates how forms of religious bias have distorted relationships and interactions between characters.

Religious prejudice in the play is presented through biased beliefs about the morals and values held by the Jews. It is clear that Christians view Jewish morals and values as compromised, particularly when it comes to lending of money. The Jews are considered shrewd, mean, and heartless. This view is evident when Antonio says to Bassanio “I pray you, think you question with the Jew? …You may as well do anything most hard, as seek to soften that-than which what’s harder? – his Jewish heart.” This illustrates of how lowly Christians thought of the Jewish morals and values were. In the quest to challenge and change these morals and values, Christian characters in the play conspire to expose Shylock with the intention of forcing him to convert to Christianity.  In this, religious biases on conventional moral and values causes major conflicts and co-existence problems.  

As well, religious prejudice is exhibited through beliefs on the type of foods that should be consumed. In the play, Shylock detests Christians for their cuisine choices as expressed by his response to dinner invitation by Bassanio. Following the invitation he says, “Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into.”  In another incident, Shylock made it clear to Yachnin and Patricia that he could buy with them, sell with them, walk with them and so following; but would never eat, drink, or pray with them. The Jewish beliefs that are the basis of Shylock’s bias against foods such as pork and those who consume them creates distrust and strenuous relationships between Jews and Christians. This makes cuisine a major cause of religious prejudice in the play.

From this 500 words essay example, different elements of a good essay are evident.

The elements are critical to proper organization within and between the essay paragraphs.

Such elements include:

2. Background

3. Thesis statement

4. Topics sentences

5. Evidence

6. Transitions

The essay starts with an attention catcher (hook) on how the issue being discussed presents itself.

In this case, a succinct statement about the ways through which prejudice is entrenched catches the attention of the reader right from the word go.

A brief but adequately detailed background about the issue is subsequently provided.

As illustrated in the 500 words essay example, there is a thesis statement towards the end of the introduction.

Further, the second paragraph (body’s first paragraph) starts with a topic sentence.

After the topic sentence an explanation of the point is made.

This explanation is then supported using evidence that includes examples.

The paragraph ends with a transition to the next paragraph and the sequence in the second paragraph is repeated in the third one.

Note that the conclusion paragraph is missing from the above 500 words essay example.

The conclusion paragraph assumes a slightly different approach or sentence structure to the body paragraphs.

Its sentences sum up the points in the body paragraphs.

All these elements need to be incorporated in the 500 words essay.

After considering all the above elements, you should focus on length as another are area of concern for the 500 words essay.

Issues about length are as discussed below.

These issues usually emanate from a common question about the essay’s length.

The question is: 500 words essay is how many pages?

500 Words Essay is how many Pages and Paragraphs?

The 500 words essay is about 2 double-spaced pages.

Usually, 1 double-spaced pages is about 275 words, where 2 such pages would be about 550 words.

For the paragraphs, the 500 words essay could range between 5 and 6 paragraphs, with 2 of these paragraphs being introduction and conclusion.

From a conventional 500 words essay example, it is clear that each of the paragraph should range between 5 and 7 sentences.

The total word count for such paragraphs should be between about 70 and 110 words.

Importantly, the respective number of paragraphs, sentences, and word per paragraph should be aligned to the number of points you intend to advance in the 500d words essay.

500 Words Essay Topics

500 words essay topics vary depending on the area or the discipline you intend to explore.

For instance, you may explore  medical argumentative essay topics  or  medical persuasive speech topics  in the medical discipline.

On the other hand, 500 words essay topics in business may look into such areas as ethics, competition, and leadership.

The most important thing to consider when selecting these topics is your personal interest.

If you are allowed to choose a topic, you should look for one in area that you not only have adequate knowledge in, but also one that spikes your interest most.

How to Write a 500 Words Essay

The process of writing a 500 words essay is similar to that of writing an essay of any other length.

Whether it’s an English essay in 500 words or a 500 words essay about myself, the writing process should adhere to some steps.

Such steps are as listed below:

1. Creating an outline

2. Crafting the introduction

3. Developing the body paragraphs

4. Concluding the essay

1. Creating an Outline

Creating an outline lays the foundation for the essay.

The outline should have all the respective parts of an essay, including introduction, body, and conclusion.

The 500 words essay outline should include extensive details on the potential points. Nothing should be excluded when developing the outline.

Accordingly, ideas should be broken down into logical and structured categories.

These ideas should later be arranged into coherent points and arguments.

2. Crafting the Introduction

A rough introduction should be written about the topic being discussed.

As illustrated in the 500 words essay example above, the introduction should include a hook and the thesis statement.

Sometimes it is advisable to just develop the thesis statement and then proceed to the body paragraphs, before coming back to compile the introduction.

Since the introduction should elicit the reader’s curiosity into reading the entire essay, it should be carefully and meticulously crafted.

3. Developing the Body Paragraphs

This step is extremely critical since the body paragraphs are the substance of the essay.

Borrowing from the 500 words essay example above, it is clear that the body paragraphs should contain the evidence supporting the points being advanced in the essay.

Such evidence should be in the form of data or direct quotes.

As earlier noted, the paragraphs for a 500 words essay should range between 5 and 6.

It is important to ensure that the paragraphs relate to each other.

4. Concluding the Essay

This should be the last step in writing the essay.

Although the above 500 words essay example does not have a conclusion, you should not overlook its importance.

Whether it’s for an English essay in 500 words or a 500 words essay about myself, the conclusion should well-crafted to effectively sum up the argument (s) presented.

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